NGMA AGT 2024: The Path of Growth and Innovation
Written by: Vera Medici
The National Grants Management Association’s (NGMA) Annual Grants Training (AGT) returned to the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, this year – a little earlier than usual. The event ran from February 27 to March 1, 2024. This year was the biggest conference yet, and AGT brought together more than 1,700 grant professionals to network and learn. As always, Management Concepts was excited to learn and engage with grant professionals!
Industry Updates & Education
The conference started off strong, with an engaging keynote from Ken Dieffenbach, deputy assistant inspector general for investigations at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General. Ken stressed the importance of accountability and oversight in grants management, sharing best practices and some fascinating examples of internal controls gone wrong. This was immediately followed by the much-anticipated OMB update from Deirdre Harrison. Deirdre highlighted the newly launched Federal Program Inventory, a new searchable tool with information about federal grant programs designed to make it easier for potential recipients to identify funding opportunities and increase government transparency. Then it was on to the business of the pending updates to Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200). OMB expects to release the final rule in the Federal Register soon. Deirdre highlighted her team’s critical work on this process and the importance of reviewing everything to make sure what is released is legal and correct and reduces the recipient burden.
Throughout the conference other sessions addressed key issues such as closeout, equipment management, DEIA, and leveraging data and analytics.
Management Concepts presented one of those sessions—Grants Director Sarah Hluchan and Financial Management Director Thomas Devine shared their wisdom on Internal controls, Single audits, and Grants Management to a packed room on Wednesday afternoon. Their session helped participants understand how their internal controls inform their grants management to help prevent single audit findings—but it also helped them understand how to effectively develop and implement corrective action plans when the need arises. Sarah and Tom took audience questions after the session (and throughout the week at the Management Concepts booth!)
Networking in the Exhibit Hall
Hundreds of attendees visited the Management Concepts booth in the exhibit hall to pick up information on our many new and updated courses in Grants & Assistance. Our new courses being highlighted include the soon-to-be-rereleased Federal Grants Update and Refresher, the Grant Readiness Workshop, and Audit of Federal Grants for Recipients. Our knowledgeable staff explained the options for professional development training from Management Concepts, which span federal, pass-through, and recipient organizations, with the opportunity to earn a certificate through our Grants Management Certificate Program™ (GMCP™).
With so many options for training, Management Concepts is always accepting applications for instructors and subject matter experts (SMEs). Download at-a-glance information for instructors and SMEs, or visit our career page.
And Finally, the End
Friday, March 1, marked the conclusion of AGT 2024, but it’s not a farewell, just a temporary pause. With the grants landscape evolving continuously, the NGMA remains dedicated to fostering ongoing learning opportunities through webinars and other resources. Likewise, Management Concepts is committed to supporting the grants community’s growth and development. Stay connected with us by visiting our NGMA partner page for updates on our activities, and access event photos from AGT on our Facebook page.
